Measuring pump switch



March 20, 1934. R MEYER 1,951,942

MEASURING PUMP SWITCH Filed Nov. 2, 1933 3 Sheets- Sheet 1 0/ L H fi -XTI ime/whet 1 53 RZC/Tdfd T/Msyer chm Ame/whee dh owcq March 20, 1934. R.T. MEYER MEASURING PUMP SWITCH Filed Nov. 2, 1933 3 Sheets- Sheet 2March 20, R T. MEYER MEASURING PUMP SWITCH Filed Nov. 2, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Mar. 20, 1934 UNITED STATES MEASURING PUMP SWITCHRichard '1. Meyer, Chicago, 111., assignor to The Pure Oil Company,Chicago, 111., a corporation of Ohio Application November 2, 1933,Serial No. 696,363

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in switch operating mechanism,and has particular reference to the provision of novel means forgoverning, at will, the direction of rotation of a revers- 5 ibleelectrical motor.

In my prior application, Serial No. 624,787, filed July 26, 1932, ofwhich the present application forms a continuation-in-part, I havedisclosed improved motor fuel measuring and dispensing apparatus whereina single reversible motor is employed with associated controls toselectively drive a pair of pump units. By means of these pump units,the motor fluid may be pumped from a storage tank or other receptacleinto an elevated, transparent-walled measuring container when one ofsaid pump units is in operation and, when the other of the units isoperated, the fluid may be positively withdrawn from the container andadvanced under pressure through an associated discharge conduit.

In the practical usage of this pumping apparatus, especially during busyperiods, some dii culty has been encountered, apparently due toconfusion, haste or carelessness on the part of the pump attendants, inproperly operating the switch controls to obtain the desired operationof a selected unit, such confusion or improper operation having at timesresulted in the simultaneous excitation of two or more motor circuitscausing injury to the windings of the motor and associated conductors.

It is, therefore, one or" the outstanding objects of the presentinvention to provide an improved switch operating mechanism for pumpingapparatus of the character set forth, wherein an interlocking leversystem is employed which necessitates the closing and opening of but onecircuit at a given operation and prevents the simultaneous closing oftwo or more of such circuits. It is also an object of the invention tosimplify the actuation of the switch operating mechanism and to providea sturdy, simple mechanism which may be subjected to hard usage andrepeated operations without becoming out of order or requiring repairand adjustments.

For a further understanding of the invention, as to its construction,advantages and principles of operation, reference is to be had to thefollowing description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a View substantially in vertical section of the improvedpumping apparatus comprising the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse horizontal sectional view taken through the pumpon the plane indicated by the line II-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line III-III of Fig. 9 andillustrating the clutch and flexible coupling for driving the upper pumpunit;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional View taken through the clutch on theline IV-IV of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a similar horizontal sectional view through the flexible drivecoupling on the line V-V of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line VIVI of Fig. 2 anddisclosing more particularly the adjustable mercury switches used inconnection with the apparatus for controlling the operation of the pumpmotor;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view on the plane indicated by the lineVIIVII of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a detail horizontal sectional view on the line VIII-VIII ofFig. 6

Fig. 9 is a view in side elevation, and partly in vertical section, ofthe pump motor, the associated pumping units, and the drive mechanismbetween the motor and the pumping units;

Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional View on the line X-X of Fig. 9 takenthrough the upper pumpin unit which functions to effect a forceddischarge of liquid from the measuring container through the dischargehose of the apparatus;

Fig. 11 is a similar view on the line XI-Xl of Fig. 9 through the lowerpumping unit employed for elevating liquid from an underground storagetank to the visible measuring container.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates motor fuel measuringand dispensing apparatus which, in this instance, has been shown ascomprising a base ring 1 from which arises a plurality of verticalrigidly connected supporting standards 2. The upper ends of thestandards eiiect the support of a container base plate 3, upon which ismounted a cylindrical transparent walled container 4. The top of thecontainer is provided with the customary bonnet 5 to which may besecured an advertising globe 6. The container 4 and the bonnet 5 areheld in connection with the base plate 3 by means of vertical tie rods7. A substantially cylindrical metallic casing 8 may be disposed betweenthe ring 1 and the base plate 3 to enclose the pump mechanism of theapparatus.

Leading from an underground fluid storage tank (not shown) is a pipeline 9, which extends to the suction side of a lower pump unit 10disclosed particularly in Fig. 11, and mounted in the lower part of thecasing 8. By the operation of the pump unit 10, the liquid motor fuelmay be withdrawn from the underground tank, ad-' vanced through the unit10, and discharged from the latter under pressure through a verticallyextending pipe 11 and delivered to the interior of the container 4 byway of the riser 12, which has its upper end provided with adistributing cap 13. Within the container, there may be arranged avertical rod 14 carrying adjustable markers by means of which units ofliquid measurement may be indicated, as is customary in apparatus ofthis kind. Also arranged in the container 4 is an overflow whichprevents the liquid level in the container 4 from exceeding apredetermined point.

The base plate 3 is provided with a liquid outlet 16, which communicateswith the inlet side of a discharge pump 17, which may be of the typeindicated in Fig. 10, and the outlet of the pump 17 cooperates with atubular fitting 18 with which is connected a flexible discharge conduitor hose 19. The outer end of the hose is equipped with the usual valvecontrolled nozzle 20, provided with a valve trigger 21 and a stationaryhand guard 22.

Supported by the standards 2 is a motor bracket 23, upon which ismounted a reversible electric motor 24, shown particularly in Fig. 9.This single motor is employed for the purpose of driving both of thepump units for obvious reasons of structural simplicity and economy. Thearmature shaft 25 of the motor projects beyond both ends of the motorhousing and, as shown in Fig. 3, the upper projecting end of the shaft25 is connected with a simple type of ball clutch 26 which is operatedto effect the rotation of a coupling head 27 when the shaft 25 revolvesin the direction of the arrow disclosed in Fig. 4. Spaced from thecoupling head 27 is a complemental coupling head 28 and a drive spider29 unites the flexible rings 30 of said coupling heads in driverelationship. The lower end of the pump shaft 31 of the pumping unit 17is connected with the head 28, as shown in Figs. 3 and 9. Precisely thesame construction is employed for uniting the lower end of the motorshaft 25 with the pump shaft 32 of the pump unit 10 and therefore adetailed description thereof need not be given. The upper pumping unit17 has its housing bolted or otherwise secured to the under surface ofthe base plate 3, while the lower pumping unit 10 is mounted on abracket 33 carried in connection with the standards 2. It will beunderstood that the pumping unit 1i; may be of any desired form, and Ido not restrict myself to the particular type illustrated, yet apreferred type of pump, as sho rm in Fig. 11, consists of a casinghaving an inlet 34 arranged in communication with the pipe line 9. Thisinlet communicates with a horizontal rotor chamber 35 in which isarranged a rotor 36 provided with radially disposed spring pressed vanes3'7. The walls of the rotor chamber are disposed in eccentricrelationship to the axis of the rotor 36 and therefore as the rotorrevolves, fluid is drawn into the rotor chamber and positively expelledtherefrom by the action of the spring pressed vanes 37 contacting withthe peripheral wall of the chamber. The outlet 38 of the rotor chambercommunicates with the vertically disposed pipe 11, by which the fluiddischarged from the pumping unit 10 is elevated to the plane of thecontainer 4. The inlet of the pumping unit 10 may be provided with theusual screen means 38 for removing objectionable solids from the motorfuel.

The pumping unit 1'7 is of a simple centrifugal type and includes arotor 39, as shown in Fig. 10, provided with radial vanes 40 of thefixed type, which, when the rotor 39 is revolved in the direction of thearrow indicated in Fig. 10, functions to withdraw fluid from thecontainer and advance the same under desired pressures through the hose19 to the delivery nozzle 20.

The present invention resides primarily in the provision of an improvedswitch controlling means for governing the operation of the motor 24.Supported within the casing 8 by the standards 2 is a cross member inthe form of a channel 41. Pivotally secured as at 42 to this channel isan operating lever 43 mounted for limited pivotal movement in asubstantially horizontal plane. The outer end of the lever 43 projectsthrough an arcuate slot provided in the casing 8 and terminates in anupstanding lug 44 which, as shown in Fig. 1, receives the guard 22 ofthe nozzle 20 when the latter is not in active use. On each side of thehand guard, when positioned as shown in Fig. 1, there is arranged astationary stop member 45 so disposed that rocking movement of the lever43 is prevented when the hose nozzle is inactively positioned asindicated. A padlock, not shown, may be passed through registeringopenings formed in the outer end of the lever 43 and the hand guard 22to prevent removal of the nozzle from connection with the lever when thepumping apparatus is not in use, and also to prevent any unauthorizedoperation of the lever 43. However, by lifting the nozzle from itsposition of support on the outer end of said lever, the latter may beoscillated to one side or the other of its normal or neutral position tocontrol the energizing of the motor 24.

The inner end of the lever 43 is bifurcated for engagement with. a crosspin 46 carried by a sliding rod 47. This rod, as shown in Fig. 8, isconnected with a yoke 48 arranged in a switch casing 49 which isstationarily supported in the casing by being mounted in connection withthe vertical overflow pipe 50 which extends from the pipe 15 to theunderground storage tank. The yoke 48 has its side portions providedwith elongated slots 51 adapted for the reception of pins 52 whichproject horizontally and inwardly from levers 53 and 53a which arepivotally mounted as at 54 for limited oscillation in vertical planes.The upper ends of the levers 53 and 53a carry mercury bulb switches 55with which are connected conductors 56 constituting portions of theelectrical circuits. employed in exciting the windings of the motorcoils. When the lever 43 is normally positioned, the switches 55 arerelatively located as shown in Fig. 6 with the mercury disposed in eachthereof removed from engagement with circuit completing terminals.However, upon oscillating the lever 43 to one side or the other of itsneutral position, a push or pull movement will be imparted to the rod 47so that one or the other of the levers 53 and 53a will be rocked abouttheir pivotal mounting to adjust the switch bulb carried thereby to aposition of circuit closure.

For instance, if it is desired to energize the motor 24 to effect theoperation of the pump unit 10, the lever 43 is oscillated to impart apush movement to the rod 47. This causes the lever 53 to rock about itspivotal support 54 until the lever 53 assumes a position in which theswitch bulb carried thereby will close the motor circuit which itcontrols. A weight 57 is connected with the pivotal mounting of thelever 53 to retain the latter in its position of circuit closure, theweight 57 being arranged on an arm disposed exteriorly of the casing 49,as set forth in Fig. 7. Due to the provision of the elongated slot inthe yoke 48, the latter may return to its normal position followingactuating movement thereof to close the motor circuit governed by thelever 53, without effecting the position of circuit closure of the lever53. This causes the motor 24 to operate in one direction so that thepump unit 10 will fill the container 4 to a desired level with theliquid. If allowed to overflow, the liquid passes downwardly through thepipes 15 and 50 and enters a casing 58 in which is contained a cup 59.This cup is suspended by means of a rod 60 and a link 61 from the crankarm 62 carried by the lever 53, so that when a pr determined amount ofliquid collects in the cup 59, the weight 57, associated with the lever53, is overbalanced, and the lever 53 is oscillate.L automatically to aposition opening the motor circult and thereby deenergizing the motor asand arresting the operation of the pumping unit 19.

Likewise, to govern the selective control of the pumping unit 17 by thesingle motor 24, the lever 43 may be actuated to impart a pullingmovement to the rod 47. Such a pulling movement, due to the elongatedslot in the yoke 48, will not affect the operative position o theassociated lever 53, but results in the rocking of the lever 53a, aboutits fulcrum so that the mercury switch carried thereby will bepositioned to close the motor circuit so that the motor 2i may be0perated to effect the functioning of the pumping unit 17. Carried bythe pin 52 which is connected with the lower end of the lever 53a is arod 63, which is slidably mounted in connection with a bearing guide 64provided on one side of the yoke 48. A coil spring 65 surrounds said rodand is disposed between the guide 6-1 and the pin 52. The operation ofthe lever 53a is man ually executed in both directions in the openingand closing of the motor circuit governed thereby. However, the spring65 while serving to move the lever 53a to a position opening the motorcircuit also provides compensation for retaining the lever 53astationary against its fixed stop when the yoke -18 is operated to movethe lever 53 to a position of circuit closure.

In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that the present inventionprovides a visible type of motor fuel dispensing and measuring pumpwherein a single reversible electric motor may be used for operating apair of pump units, and wherein novel and improved interlocking controlmechanism is provided for eifecting the selective operation of thepumping units by controlling the direction or" the rotation of themotor. By the operation of the lever t3, the switch mechanism may be setto effect the filling of the container 4 with the fluid to be dispensedand then by reason of the overflow cup 59, the operation of the motorand associated pump unit may be automatically discontinued when thecontainer is filled with liquid. When a motor vehicle is serviced, it ismerely necessary to remove the nozzle 20 from its normal position androck the lever 43 in a direction so that the motor 24 will be operatedto effect the operation of the upper pump unit 1'7. Following thecompletion of this operation, the nozzle may be restored to its normalsuspended or hung position on the side of the casing 8. However, beforethis can be done, it is necessary that the lever 43 be rocked to aneutral position discontinuing the operation of the motor so that thedesired association between the hand guard of the nozzle and the lug onthe outer end of the lever 43 may be reestablished. This preventsunintentional sustained operation of the motor following the servicingof a motor vehicle with fluid. The mechanism is sturdy, simple and convenient to operate and is not likely to become out of order by reason ofthe failure of the pump attendant to properly regulate its operation.

What is claimed is:

1. In controlling mechanism for a reversible electric motor, a pair oftiltable mercury bulb switches governing independent circuits forenergizing said motor to efiect its rotation in different directions, apivoted support for each of said switches, and manually operated meansmovable in opposed directions from a central position for selectivelyrocking said supports to move said switches to positions of motorcircuit opening and closure, the movement or" said means in onedirection from a central position serving to operate one of saidswitches without aifecting the circuit controlling positions or" theother switch.

2. In controlling mechanism for a reversible electric motor, a pair oftiltable mercury bulb switches governing independent circuits forenergizing said motor to efifect its rotation in difierent directions, apivoted support for each of said switches, and manually operated meansmovable in opposed directions from a central position for selectivelyrocking said supports to move said switches to positions or" motorcircuit opening and closure, the movement of said means in one directionfrom a central position serving to operate one of said switches withoutaffecting the circuit controlling positions of the other switch, both ofsaid switches being disposed in positions of circuit opening when theoperating means are normally or centrally positioned.

in circuit controlling mechanism for a re versible electric motor, pairof pivoted supports mounted for limited turning movement about asubstantially common axis, mercury bulb switches carried by saidsupports for effecting the opening and closing oi relatively independentcircuits used in energizing said motor to govern the direction ofrotation of its armature shaft, and a slidable actuating member forcontrolling the operating positions of said supports, said member beingprovided with longitudinal slot for the reception of offset projectionsformed on the ends of said supports opposed to said bulb switches.

4. In circuit controlling mechanism for a reversible electric motor, apair of pivoted supports mounted for limited turning movement about asubstantially common axis, fluid-conductor bulb switches carried by saidsupports for controlling the opening and closing of relativelyindependent circuits used in energizing said motor to govern thedirection of rotation of its armature shaft, a slidable operating memberfor changing the operating positions of said supports, said member beingprovided with a longitudinal slot for the reception of offsetprojections formed in connection with the ends of said supports oppositeto the ends thereof carrying the bulb switches, the said projectionsoccupying difierent ends of said slot when said switches assumepositions of circuit openin 5. In circuit controlling mechanism, a pairof pivoted supports mounted for limited turning movement about asubstantially common axis, a fluid-conductor bulb switch carried by theupper end of each of said supports, said switches governing the openingand closing of associated independent circuits, a manually operatedslldable actuating member having an elongated slot formed therein,oii'set projections carried by the lower ends of said supports andreceivable within said slot, spring means serving to retain theprojection of one of said supports normally in engagement with one endof said slot, and gravityresponsive means cooperative with the other ofsaid supports for normally retaining the projection thereof inengagement with the other end of said slot.

RICHARD T. MEYER.

